Randy Thompson, K5ZD, said February 9 that he will step down as director of the CQ World Wide Contest as soon as his replacement can be found. His announcement includes a job description for prospective applicants. Thompson cited increasing professional responsibilities for his decision. Thompson became director of the CQ WPX Contest in 2008, serving through the 2012 contest. He was appointed as CQ WW Contest Director in September 2012.

“I have enjoyed working on the CQ contests and hope to stay involved with the websites and log checking,” Thompson said. “The demands of a new job are preventing me from dedicating the time that the role deserves. With WPX, WW, and WRTC 2014 activities over the past 8 years, I am ready for a break. I am very proud of the work the Committee has done in enforcing the rules and feel that contesting results are now more accurate than ever. I look forward to working with the new director.”

Under his leadership, the CQ WPX and CQ WW contests have improved the log-checking process and enforcement actions against rule violations. The web sites for the two contests were enhanced to include a historical database of all-time scores, records, results, and log submission tools.

An accomplished contester, Thompson has been licensed since 1973, when he was 13. He is a past editor of National Contest Journal (NCJ), a co-founder of the eHam.net website, and a member of the CQ Magazine Contest Hall of Fame. Thompson has competed in five World Radiosport Team Championship events and was a member of the organizing committee for WRTC 2014 in New England. When not in front of a radio, he is in product management for a technology company involved in the “Internet of Things.”